12 Apr 2017

Minister of Agriculture, Development and Food Security, Mr Patrick Ralotsia has called on farmers and the community to come up with effective strategies to eradicate beef measles as it threatens the beef industry.

Mr Ralotsia, who is Member of Parliament for Kanye North, informed farmers that beef measles is caused by human waste and that the country was badly affected.

He was addressing kgotla meetings at Kgomokasitwa and Magotlhwane on April 11.

He said the situation was serious, hence the need for farmers to act on the problem.

He blamed poor sanitation for the prevalence of the disease in the district, adding that the community was still behind in adopting good hygienic practices.

He explained that many cattle slaughtered at the abattoir had measles resulting in the abattoir incurring huge costs because of beef which had to be treated.

The beef industry has potential to add value to the economy and improve the livelihoods of Batswana, he said.

He said most of the farmers still practiced in communal land hence they needed to be nurtured and developed.

Batswana communal farmers kept cattle as savings rather than for commercial purposes.

He explained that there was no treatment for live cattle infected with measles but the disease can be controlled when human beings resort to using the toilet or digging up the ground whenever relieving themselves.

Mr Ralotsia also advised people to buy meat of cattle slaughtered by veterinary officials and eat thoroughly cooked meat.

The minister said it was costly for the commission because meat diagnosed with measles could not be sold to the markets.

He encouraged farmers to take care of their cattle and also to undertake medical check-ups for the treatment of tapeworm which transfers measles from human waste to animals.

In other issues he queried about poor results in schools in his constituency.

He was worried that parents have distanced themselves from educating their children, and encouraged parents to work jointly together with teachers.

He promised to give heifers to Form V students who will pass with 46, 47 and 48 points in examinations from his constituency.

He started last year at Seepapitso Secondary School.

He also informed them about Bills which were tabled and passed in the recent parliament session.

Commenting, some farmers urged other farmers in the Southern District to build toilets at their cattle posts or farms to curb the escalating rate of cattle found with measles.

However, most of the residents were worried about

Tsweneyagae/Kgomokasitwa road, which they said is in a bad situation and the government has long promised to tarmac it.

They said the road is now badly damaged after the recent downpours.

They were worried about stock theft in their area and weeds which covered their crops after the recent rains

In response, Ralotsia said he knew about the issue of the road and informed Kgomokasitwa residents that recently he formed Kanye North constituency VDC committee which met the concerned minister who welcomed them.

He said they are expecting to be assisted since the road has long been requested. ENDS